| The Curious Case of the Christmas Greenhouse |
| An Extraordinary Gardenverse Christmas Mystery Some gardens refuse to behave… |
| A Gardening Company Like No Other The Ministry of Misbehaving Gardens — Christmas Teaser Three Every respectable English village needs certain things. A church, a few picturesque cottages, perhaps a village shop, and preferably somebody who knows what to do when the hedges begin swallowing the footpaths. Elderwick, despite its somewhat unreliable relationship with the surrounding countryside, is no exception. Indeed, when it comes to gardening, the village is fortunate enough to possess a company whose enthusiasm for horticulture is matched only by the peculiarities of the people who work there. The Elderwick Garden Company is, by all appearances, a perfectly ordinary gardening business. Its gardeners tend borders, maintain lawns, prune shrubs and undertake the countless other jobs required to keep the English garden looking presentable. They know their plants, understand their soil and take considerable pride in their work, although visitors occasionally remark that the company’s employees seem to possess rather unusual personalities. The gardeners themselves would probably regard this as a compliment, assuming they noticed the remark in the first place. Operating from a yard in Elderwick, with an office in nearby Sandwich, the company faces the usual challenges associated with running a small business. There are appointments to keep, equipment to maintain, customers to satisfy and, of course, the weather to contend with. Unfortunately, the weather around Elderwick has a habit of making even the simplest journey considerably more interesting than it ought to be. A perfectly straightforward trip to collect a few bags of compost can become something of an expedition when the village decides to conceal itself beneath several inconvenient acres of mist. Nevertheless, the gardeners carry on, apparently untroubled by circumstances that might persuade a less determined workforce to reconsider its choice of occupation. Their gardens are beautiful, their methods occasionally unconventional, and their conversations have been known to leave unsuspecting visitors wondering whether they’ve missed an important part of the discussion. But there is something rather reassuring about people who take such obvious pleasure in the natural world, even when their understanding of what constitutes an ordinary day differs slightly from everyone else’s. As Christmas approaches, the Elderwick Garden Company will find itself at the centre of a curious adventure involving a greenhouse, a village with an unfortunate reputation for disappearing, and circumstances that may prove more complicated than anyone initially expects. What happens next is best left until Christmas, although it would be wise to remember that not every mystery begins with a sinister stranger or an unexplained noise in the night. Sometimes it begins with something as innocent as a garden. And in Elderwick, even the most innocent garden deserves a second look. |
| Coming Christmas 2026 The Curious Case of the Christmas Greenhouse A two-part Christmas adventure introducing The Ministry of Misbehaving Gardens, a new fictional world from The Gardener’s Curious Journal. Part One: Christmas Day, 25 December — 20:30 Part Two: Boxing Day, 26 December — 20:30 Some gardens refuse to behave. |
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| Author’s Note The Ministry of Misbehaving Gardens is an original work of fiction by Rory Matier, part of The Gardenverse. In this imaginative world, British horticulture meets Gothic fantasy, folklore, mystery, eccentric inventions and a generous helping of humour. Although the stories draw inspiration from real gardening experiences, historical locations and the landscapes of Kent, the characters, organisations, extraordinary events and supernatural elements are fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is coincidental or has been imaginatively adapted for storytelling purposes. The Gardenverse is intended to entertain curious readers of all ages, celebrating the wonderfully peculiar possibilities that might exist just beyond the garden gate. Copyright Notice © 2026 Rory Matier. All rights reserved. The Gardenverse, The Ministry of Misbehaving Gardens, The Curious Case of the Christmas Greenhouse, and their associated original stories, characters and fictional settings are creative works by Rory Matier. No part of these original written works may be reproduced, republished, distributed or commercially exploited without the copyright holder’s prior written permission, except as permitted by applicable copyright law. Original artwork and illustrations are credited or licensed separately where applicable. |
